Firefighters held a protest yesterday against moves by North Tipperary County Council to make cuts to their fire service.
The protest, which was not an industrial action, was held at Nenagh Fire Station while North Tipperary County Council held its annual budget meeting inside.
Last week 75 firefighters voted to take industrial action from January 1st due to the proposed cutbacks.
The council had proposed to close a rural fire station in Cloughjordan, outside Nenagh, with the loss of eight jobs, and reduce training hours for firemen by 50 per cent.
Councillors yesterday voted to accept cuts to the fire service. However, Cloughjordan fire station will remain open and training hours will be conducted in accordance with the 1999 Retained Fire Fighters agreement, which provides for 80 hours training and 20 hours block release per year.
Speaking after the meeting, SIPTU Nenagh branch secretary Mr Tom O'Driscoll said: "We welcome the fact that Cloughjordan station will remain open and that training hours will not be reduced. Once we get that officially we will recommend to members to withdraw the strike notice."
Management told councillors yesterday the cost of running North Tipperary's fire service will be reduced but the service itself will not be affected. SIPTU will meet management on Monday.